Jack Hughes Supports Women’s Hockey Team Amid Controversy

Olympic hockey star Jack Hughes expressed his support for the women’s hockey team after they encountered backlash over their reaction to President Donald Trump’s jokes. This incident occurred during a locker room phone call shortly after the men’s team celebrated their gold medal win.

In a recent appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Hughes addressed the situation. McAfee humorously suggested that Hughes and his teammates “hate” the women’s team, but Hughes was quick to clarify his respect for them. “We were at their games and they were at ours. We spent a lot of time together,” he stated.

He further addressed the criticism regarding their response to Trump’s jokes, saying, “How many of you watched the gold medal game? Quinn and I were there, jumping with excitement as we saw the girls win.” Hughes emphasized, “Everyone on our team was rooting for them; we were all so proud.”

After scoring the winning goal in the men’s gold medal match against Canada, Hughes recalled a warm interaction with U.S. women’s player Megan Keller. He described a heartfelt moment they shared in the cafeteria, celebrating their victories together.

Reflecting on his own game-winning experience, he mentioned that his immediate thought was of Keller, who had previously scored against Canada in the women’s final. Hughes said, “I hugged her really hard and said, ‘I’m so happy. I’m so proud of you.’”

However, the ongoing criticism towards the men’s team arose from their laughter at Trump’s joke during a call, where he remarked that he “must” invite the women’s team, or face political consequences. This response sparked considerable backlash, leading to several media outlets calling out the men’s team for their lightheartedness in the situation.

In a related comment, U.S. women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight described Trump’s comments as “offensive jokes” that overshadow their achievements. She conveyed her disappointment, pointing out that these comments detracted from the success of winning the gold medal. “We are focused on celebrating the extraordinary efforts of the women,” Knight stated, asserting that the offensive jokes shouldn’t undermine their accomplishments.

Hughes’ mother, Ellen, a former Team USA player, underscored the importance of unity and support among the players, emphasizing that their collective focus is on celebrating the sport and its athletes.